The Ant, The Ants — Verse 56
27:56 · an-Naml
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۞ فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوۡمِهِۦۤ إِلَّاۤ أَن قَالُوۤا۟ أَخۡرِجُوۤا۟ ءَالَ لُوطࣲ مِّن قَرۡیَتِكُمۡۖ إِنَّهُمۡ أُنَاسࣱ یَتَطَهَّرُونَ ٥٦
famā kāna jawāba qawmihi illā an qālū akhrijū āla lūṭin min qaryatikum innahum unāsun yataṭahharūn
The Ant, The Ants / an-Naml (27:56)
Connections 3 single-source 2 commentators
Multi-source connections
No verses on this ayah are cited by 2 or more commentators using numeric S:A notation. All extracted references come from a single source's commentary.
Single-source mentions (3) cited by only one commentator
By commentator who cites how many verses on this ayah
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Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) 2 verses
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Ma'arif-ul-Quran 1 verse
Note: these connections are extracted from numeric S:A references inside the commentary text and are therefore biased toward mufassirun who use that notation. Prose-style references (e.g. "Surat al-Baqarah verse 30") will be added later, which should surface additional multi-source consensus.
The only answer his people gave was to say, ‘Expel Lot’s followers from your town! These men mean to stay chaste!’
famā kāna jawāba qawmihi illā an qālū akhrijū āla lūṭin min qaryatikum innahum unāsun yataṭahharūn
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Tafsir Commentary
Lut and His People
Allah tells us about His servant and Messenger Lut, peace be upon him, and how he warned his people of Allah's punishment for committing an act of immorality which no human ever committed before them -- intercourse with males instead of females. This is a major sin, whereby men are satisfied with men and women are with women (i.e., homosexuality). Lut said:
أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَـحِشَةَ وَأَنتُمْ تُبْصِرُونَ
(Do you commit immoral sins while you see) meaning, `while you see one another, and you practice every kind of evil in your meetings.'
أَءِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِّن دُونِ النِّسَآءِ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ
(Do you practice your lusts on men instead of women Nay, but you are a people who behave senselessly.) means, `you do not know anything of what is natural or what is prescribed by Allah.' This is like the Ayah:
أَتَأْتُونَ الذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ الْعَـلَمِينَ - وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ مِّنْ أَزْوَجِكُمْ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ عَادُونَ
(Go you in unto the males of mankind, and leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your wives Nay, you are a trespassing people!) (26:165-166)
فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلاَّ أَن قَالُواْ أَخْرِجُواْ ءَالَ لُوطٍ مِّن قَرْيَتِكُمْ إِنَّهمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ
(There was no other answer given by his people except that they said: "Drive out the family of Lut from your city. Verily, these are men who want to be clean and pure!") means, `they feel embarrassed because of the deeds you are doing, and because you approve of your actions, so expel them from among yourselves, for they are not fit to live among you in your city.' So, the people resolved to do that, and Allah destroyed them, and a similar end awaits the disbelievers. Allah says:
فَأَنجَيْنَـهُ وَأَهْلَهُ إِلاَّ امْرَأَتَهُ قَدَّرْنَـهَا مِنَ الْغَـبِرِينَ
(So, We saved him and his family, except his wife. We destined her to be of those who remained behind.) meaning, she was one of those who were destroyed, with her people, because she was a helper to what they did and she approved of their evil deeds. She told them about the guests of Lut so that they could come to them. She did not do the evil deeds herself, which was because of the honor of the Lut and not because of any honor on her part.
وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ مَّطَرًا
(And We rained down on them a rain.) means; stones of Sijjil, in a well-arranged manner one after another. Marked from your Lord; and they are not ever far from the evildoers. Allah said:
فَسَآءَ مَطَرُ الْمُنذَرِينَ
(So, evil was the rain of those who were warned.) meaning, those against whom proof was established and whom the warning reached, but they went against the Messenger and denied him, and resolved to drive him out from among them.
But the only response of his people was that they said ‘Expel Lot’s family from your town. They are indeed a folk who prefer to remain pure!’ from coming unto the rears of men.
فما كان لقوم لوط جواب له إلا قول بعضهم لبعض: أَخْرجوا آل لوط من قريتكم، إنهم أناس يتنزهون عن إتيان الذكران. قالوا لهم ذلك استهزاءً بهم.
أي يتحرجون من فعل ما تفعلونه ومن إقراركم على صنيعكم فأخرجوهم من بين أظهركم فإنهم لا يصلحون لمجاورتكم في بلادكم فعزموا على ذلك فدمر الله عليهم وللكافرين أمثالها.
ثم حكى القرآن بعد ذلك جوابهم السيىء على نبيهم فقال : ( فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلاَّ أَن قالوا أخرجوا آلَ لُوطٍ مِّن قَرْيَتِكُمْ . . ) .والفاء للتفريع ، والاستثناء مفرغ من أعم الأشياء .أى : هكذا نصح لوط قومه وزجرهم ، فما كان جوابهم شيءا من الأشياء سوى قول بعضهم لبعض أخرجوا لوطا والمؤمنين من قريتكم التى يساكنوكم فيها .وفى التعبير بقولهم : ( مِّن قَرْيَتِكُمْ ) إشارة إلى غرورهم وتكبرهم فكأنهم يعتبرون لوطا وأهله المؤمنين دخلاء عليهم ، ولا مكان لهم بين هؤلاء المجرمين لأن القرية - وهى سدوم - هى قريتهم وحدهم ، دون لوط وأهله .وقوله - تعالى - حكاية عنهم : ( إِنَّهمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ ) تعليل للإخراج ، وبيان لسببه ، أى أخرجوهم من قريتكم لأنهم أناس يتنزهون عن الفعل الذى نفعله ، وينفرون من الشهوة التى نشتهيها وهى إتيان الرجال . .وما أعجب العقول عندما تنتكس ، والنفوس عندما ترتكس ، إنها تأبى أن يبقى معها الأطهار ، بل تحرض على طردهم ، ليبقى معها الممسوخون والمنحرفون الذين انحطت طباعهم ، وزين لهم الشيطان سوء أعمالهم فرأوه حسنا .ورحم الله صاحب الكشاف فقد قال : وقولهم : ( إِنَّهمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ ) سخرية بهم وبتطهرهم من الفواحش ، وافتخارا بما كانوا فيه من القذارة ، كما يقول الفسقة لبعض الصلحاء إذا وعظهم : أبعدوا عنا هذا المتقشف وأريحونا من هذا المتزهد .
يقول تعالى ذكره: فلم يكن لقوم لوط جواب له, إذ نهاهم عما أمره الله بنهيهم عنه من إتيان الرجال, إلا قيل بعضهم لبعض: (أَخْرِجُوا آلَ لُوطٍ مِنْ قَرْيَتِكُمْ إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ ) عما نفعله نحن من إتيان الذكران في أدبارهم.كما حدثنا الحسن, قال: أخبرنا عبد الرزاق, قال: سمعت الحسن بن عُمارة يذكر عن الحكم, عن مجاهد, عن ابن عباس, في قوله: (أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ ) قال: من إتيان الرجال والنساء في أدبارهن.حدثني محمد بن عمرو, قال: ثنا أبو عاصم, قال: ثنا عيسى; وحدثني الحارث, قال: ثنا الحسن, قال: ثنا ورقاء جميعا, عن ابن أبي نجيح, عن مجاهد, في قوله: (إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ ) قال: من أدبار الرجال وأدبار النساء استهزاء بهم.حدثنا القاسم, قال: ثنا الحسين, قال: ثني حجاج, عن ابن جُرَيج, عن مجاهد, قال: ( يَتَطَهَّرُونَ ) من أدبار الرجال والنساء, استهزاء بهم يقولون ذلك.حدثنا القاسم, قال: ثنا الحسين, قال: ثنا أبو سفيان, عن معمر, عن قتادة أنه تلا(إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ ) قال: عابوهم بغير عيب أي: إنهم يتطهرون من أعمال السوء.
( فما كان جواب قومه إلا أن قالوا أخرجوا آل لوط من قريتكم إنهم أناس يتطهرون ) من أدبار الرجال .
فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ قَالُوا أَخْرِجُوا آَلَ لُوطٍ مِنْ قَرْيَتِكُمْ إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ (56) تقدم نظير هاته الآية في سورة الأعراف ( 82 ) ، وخالفتها هذه بوقوع العطف بالفاء في قوله { فما كان جواب قومه } دون الواو ، وبقوله { أخرجوا ءال لوط } عوض { أخرجوهم } [ الأعراف : 82 ] وبقوله { قدرناها } عوض { كانت } [ الأعراف : 83 ] ، وبقوله { فساء مطر المنذرين } عوض { فانظر كيف كان عاقبة المجرمين } [ الأعراف : 84 ] .
{ فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ ْ} قبول ولا انزجار ولا تذكر وادكار، إنما كان جوابهم المعارضة والمناقضة والتوعد لنبيهم الناصح ورسولهم الأمين بالإجلاء عن وطنه والتشريد عن بلده. فما كان جواب قومه { إِلَّا أَنْ قَالُوا أَخْرِجُوا آلَ لُوطٍ مِنْ قَرْيَتِكُمْ ْ} فكأنه قيل: ما نقمتم منهم وما ذنبهم الذي أوجب لهم الإخراج، فقالوا: { إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ ْ} أي: يتنزهون عن اللواط وأدبار الذكور. فقبحهم الله جعلوا أفضل الحسنات بمنزلة أقبح السيئات، ولم يكتفوا بمعصيتهم لنبيهم فيما وعظهم به حتى وصلوا إلى إخراجه، والبلاء موكل بالمنطق فهم قالوا: { أَخْرِجُوهُمْ مِنْ قَرْيَتِكُمْ إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ ْ} ومفهوم هذا الكلام: " وأنتم متلوثون بالخبث والقذارة المقتضي لنزول العقوبة بقريتكم ونجاة من خرج منها """
قوله تعالى : فما كان جواب قومه إلا أن قالوا أخرجوا آل لوط من قريتكم إنهم أناس يتطهرون أي عن أدبار الرجال . يقولون ذلك استهزاء منهم ; قاله مجاهد . وقال قتادة : عابوهم والله بغير عيب بأنهم يتطهرون من أعمال السوء .
The community of Lot, in its excessive sexual indulgence, had stooped to homosexuality. Lot, trying to stir their conscience, said, ‘O, subjects of God! You have been given eyes to observe things and the moral sense to be able to differentiate between good and bad. Then, how can you indulge in conduct which amounts to open shamelessness?’ The community had no reply to this. They could not reject the prophet’s words on the basis of logical arguments. So, they resorted to violence against him. But, when this stage is reached, the time comes for God’s final decision to be made without further delay. So they were destroyed by a volcanic eruption. Lot’s wife was also not exempt from this fate either, as she was one of the unbelievers. God deals with individuals according to their personal conduct and not on the basis of their being someone’s relatives or on the basis of their worldly connections. One who gives serious consideration to the aforesaid events of history, will cry out with feeling, ‘I express my heartfelt gratitude to God, who has arranged for the guidance of humanity in every age!’ And then his heart will be filled with respect for those who dedicated their lives to God and completed the mission of providing God’s guidance to everyone.
لَنُبَيِّتَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ ثُمَّ لَنَقُولَنَّ لِوَلِيِّهِ مَا شَهِدْنَا مَهْلِكَ أَهْلِهِ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ
We shall attack him (Salih علیہ السلام) and his family at night, then will say to his heir, We did not witness the destruction of his family and we are really truthful - 27:49.
The plan was that all of them together should attack him and his companions in the darkness of night, and kill them all. And when the claimant of the blood would make the claim, they would say that they did not kill him, and also they did not know who had killed him. In saying so they would have uttered the truth because no one could have known who had killed whom in the darkness of the night.
The point to note here is that all the acts of infidelity, disbelief, killing and pillage were being performed by the infidels, rather than those among them who were hardened criminals. Yet they were careful that they don't speak a lie or get blamed for falsehood. This shows how great the sin of falsehood is, that even the perpetrators of heinous crimes avoid it for the sake of their self-respect.
The other thing worth noting in this verse is that the one whom these infidels had mentioned as the Wall or heir of Sayyidna Salili (علیہ السلام) was a man of his own family. So, why did they leave him out from being assassinated? The answer to this question is that he might have been the successor from the lineage point of view, but otherwise he could be an infidel and be a party with the infidels. There could have been the consideration that he might claim the compensation for the blood of Sayyidna Salih (علیہ السلام) because of his relationship with him. The other possibility is that he might have been a Muslim but enjoyed a prominent position and hence there could have been the risk of uprising and reprisal among the people. Only Allah knows best.
(But the answer of his folk was naught save that they said: Expel the household of Lot) Lot and his two daughters: Za'ura and Raytha (from your township) Sodom, (for they (forsooth) are folk who would keep clean) they exonerate themselves from sodomy!